-Deborah Akinyosoye
An Onitsha-based businessman, Chikwado Eze, tragically died during a ritual in Inyi, a community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State.
Eze, originally from Ugbaike community, had secured a visa for an overseas business trip and sought fortification from a native doctor to ensure success. The native doctor instructed that Eze be buried alive for one and a half hours as part of the ritual.
On the day of the ritual, Eze, accompanied by his father Uwakwe, was buried in a grave for the specified time. However, when exhumed, instead of being fortified, Eze was weak and drenched in sweat. Despite the native doctor’s attempts to revive him with incantations, Eze remained unresponsive and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Both the father and the native doctor have been arrested by the police for interrogation. Uwakwe, previously ostracized by the Ugbaike community for involvement in dangerous charms, denied forcing his son into the ritual, stating that Eze had already prepared everything before inviting him.